Ipswich Town (Away) 22.02.2025

A not unexpected early period of pressure saw Tottenham escape with Delap being put through in the first minute (similar to Villa break in the first minute of the FA Cup tie), forcing a save from Guglielmo Vicario and a clearance from Danso off the line that brought a follow-up shot from Philogene that hit Hutchinson in an offside position in front of goal, then Gray and Danso tried to clear it off the line before Guglielmo grabbed it near the goal-line.  The press that Ipswich were employing meant Spurs couldn’t play out and Delap took on Gray put a ball across goal that no Ipswich player had followed in, then the centre-forward headed a free-kick that hit the far post of the Tottenham goal with Philogene trying an overhead kick when the ball dropped on the edge of the box, which flew miles too high.

Spurs eventually got a move together with twelve minutes gone, with Son going down the left and coming into the box, setting up Lucas Bergvall, who tried to place his shot through the crowded box, but it was blocked and Greaves just beat Brennan Johnson to the loose ball.  After cutting out a pass from Phillips intended to send Delap through, Archie Gray played a long ball forward that found Son out on the left with a ball over Ben Godfrey’s head who he then took on, making a step-over to go past the defender before putting a low ball towards the far post where Brennan Johnson came in to score a goal with his right foot getting in ahead of Davis to score from a yard out.  It was a goal that is not unfamiliar having seen it created a few times in the first half of the season.  After another week’s rest, the benefit was obvious.

Ipswich responded with Archie deflecting a Delap 20 yarder wide an then Philogene hitting a shot that dipped too late and then Delap tried a shot that lacked conviction and was easily taken by Vicario.  

Spurs doubled the lead when Son again made good ground on the left to reach a super pass by Bentancur inside Godfrey.  Son had the beating of Godfrey again, this time coming inside and putting the ball across the box for Johnson to stroke the ball in with his left foot from ten yards out.  While Ipswich had their chances inside the first ten minutes, not taking them showed the difference in the clinical finishing that Spurs were displaying.  For all those who wonder why and rage against us playing out from the back, watch where this one started and how many passes were involve din the move.  The penny might just drop.

Son then went through, making Godfrey turn this way and that before firing in a shot and only a save from Palmer’s legs denied him, but the home side started to get back into the game and in the 36th minute when Phillips put a ball in front of Jack Clarke and his pull back was fired past Vicario by Hutchinson from just inside the box to make it 2-1.  Spurs should have closed him down and it geed the crowd up as the lead was cut in half.

Godfrey showed that he couldn’t cope with Heung-Min Son by brutally bringing him down in the centre circle and was shown the yellow card.  Spurs showed that they could go back towards the home goal when Bentancur picked the ball off from an Ipswich throw and ran forward with the ball to strike a low shot that Palmer saved with the loose ball being headed out for a corner, but Tottenham couldn’t make anything from it.  Just before half-time, Son went through again and as he shot there was a blue shirt blocking it before it got to goal.

Half-time in the weak winter sun brought a lot of discussion about how important the next goal in the game would be.  Ipswich re-started having taken the woeful Godfrey off and bringing on Luke Woolfenden and they soon had to make another substitution when Cajuste went down when Bentancur fell on him and Taylor replaced him.  

Spurs were causing themselves problems when being pressed trying to play the ball out, but an Ipswich free-kick was swung in and Spurs cleared it, with Johnson looking to cash in as Kalvin Phillips slipped as the last man, although he just managed to get a saving touch on the ball.  Another free-kick for the Tractor Boys on the hour ended up in the net with Woolfenden heading Hutchinson’s far post cross in, but an offside flag preserved Tottenham’s lead.  

Looking for a hat-trick, Johnson got on the end of a ball to the far post, but Leif David got a touch on it to take it wide for another corner.  The move had been started deep in the Spurs box from a goal-kick and Bergvall was instrumental in taking on players, gliding past them to open up the defence.  The corner brought a scramble, but Danso was blatantly barged over by O’Shea in the box after the ball had gone, but once more a referee showed that something he would have awarded a free-kick for anywhere else on the pitch wasn’t something he was brave enough to give in the penalty area.

Pedro Porro came on for Destiny Udogie and James Maddison for Brennan Johnson which gave the home fans the opportunity to boo Madders having spent time at Norwich City previously in his career.  Ipswich had a shot blocked and looked as though they were building some momentum, although Tottenham had a chance to break, but Tel ran the ball out of play.  it was the last thing he did in the game, as Ange brought on Dane Scarlett in Mathys’ place and Wilson Odobert also came off the bench to take over form Heung-Min Son.

The home supporters got over-heated when Danso was clattered into by O’Shea in the Spurs box this time, with no attempt at going for the ball.  They got even more irate when Philogene brought down Maddison right in front of them to concede another free-kick.

The Tottenham changes brought about the vital next goal in the match, with James Maddison getting the ball from Djed, taking on men and moving into the area showing good close footwork and he poked it back to Spence just inside the area.  Djed took two touches and then smashed a shot at goal that took a deflection off Woolfenden on its way over the keeper to make it 3-1.  Having looked like his career at Spurs was done, his revival has been remarkable and he deserves the utmost credit for the performances he has been putting in, with this goal his first in the Premier League.

Having had a fine game, Kevin Danso eased Hirst off the ball before being fouled by the Ipswich forward.  With eight minutes left, Danso cleared the ball up the pitch and on halfway, Scarlett won a header against Greaves to flick it on to Dejan Kulusevski.  The Swede made his way up the right before coming inside to run at Woolfenden, shifting the ball onto his left foot and with Davis turning his back on the ball, Dejan curled a trademark shot low into the far side of the goal off the post to wrap up the victory, as Ipswich’s season-long failure to score many goals came back to haunt them.

The home players thought that they had a penalty in added time when Hirst went down when challenged by Kulusevski, but a quick look by VAR sided with the referee’s on-field decision.  And that was that.  A 4-1 away win and a third league victory on the trot that moved us back up to 12th and with players still to come back, hopefully, it could spell a good end to the season. 

Having watched some of the Ligue 1 action over the previous couple of seasons, I must say I hadn’t properly appreciated Kevin Danso’s ability, as in my opinion, he looked e little cumbersome, but, if today is anything to go by, he is a formidable defender, who not only has strength and a bit of pace, but he also looks to move forward and pick out a pass.  Bringing him in with other central defenders out has been a smart move.

While Delap looked like he would give Archie Gray a difficult afternoon, but after a fast start, he faded as the Spurs defence worked him out.  It was disappointing to concede a goal when 2-0 ahead, but the need to close the space that was afforded the Ipswich players will be something that needs addressing.  The home side had a go, hitting the post and having a goal disallowed, but the lesson that Spurs handed out to them in finishing was what won the match for us.  The loose Ipswich defending helped, with Godfrey exposed by Son’s direct running at him and thank goodness we got Kevin and not the former Everton man in the January window.

Brennan Johnson showed his goal-scoring ability and even though they were not spectacular, his positioning to get on the end of moves showed great awareness, but the passes that set Sonny free were crucial in giving him the opportunity to get at Godfrey.  Gray’s long pass over the top and Bentancur’s measured pass along the turf inside the defender opened up the space to run into.

The team showed what they are capable of when they have had a breather and while this may not have been the hardest task of the season, it was a massive improvement over the game against Ipswich at home and while the season has been a bit of a disaster injury-wise, there is still the underlying hope that the way we play will bring more good results.

• Djed Spence scores the first Premier League goal of his career.
• Brennan Johnson’s first goal was Tottenham’s 50th Premier League goal of the season.